U.S. Supreme Court Passes on Hearing Challenge to E15

U.S. Supreme Court Passes on Hearing Challenge to E15 The justices
upheld an appeals court decision without comment, which nixes any other
legal challenges to E15.

WASHINGTON June 25, 2013; NACSonline reported that yesterday, the U.S.
Supreme Court decided not to listen to arguments against enlarging the use
of ethanol in the United States, Dow Jones Business News reports. Several
trade groups for oil, gas, automobile and food had filed lawsuits against
two U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decisions that let gasoline
blends with 15% ethanol be for sale.

Right now, nearly all U.S. gasoline sold has 10% ethanol. EPA has okayed
the use of E15 in vehicles 2001 model year and higher, but not for older
vehicles. The automobile industry has fought E15 on the grounds that it
could hurt car engines, triggering safety and warranty claims. Oil
refineries claimed E15 would be more costly to their business.

In August 2012, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
Circuit tossed all legal challenges out but failed to judge the
agency’s actions on E15. By rejecting the groups’ appeals
without comment, the Supreme Court allowed the appeals court decision to
stand, and nixes any other legal challenge to E15.

Among those groups appealing the decision to the Supreme Court were the
American Petroleum Institute, Grocery Manufacturers Association, American
Meat Institute, National Chicken Council, the National Retail
Federation’s National Council of Chain Restaurants, North American
Meat Association, National Pork Producers Council, National Turkey
Federation and the Snack Food Council